Evaporation and hold-over tank



I. H. REINDEL EVAPORATION AND HOLD OVER TANK March 5, 1929.

Filed April 25, 1927 Z Sheets-Sheet [1m H Reina c2 March 5, 1929. RElNDEL 1,704,102

EVAPORATION AND HOLD OVER TANK Filed April 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y i y Patented ar. 5, 1929.

uN rEo STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA Bf. REINDEL, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO NORGE CORPORATION, A COR PORATION OF MICHIGAN.

EVAPORATION AN D HOLD-OVER TANK.

application filed April 25, 1927. Serial No. 186,356.

This invention relates to an evaporator header and hold-over tank for chilling counters and cold tables as used in displaying perishable or cold food'products.

liquid refrigerant is maintained at a constant level in the evaporator 'b means of afloat valve controlling the'admlssion of the liquid from the high pressure side; the chilling effect ofthe evaporator varies with the suction pressure maintained above the liquid, and this suction pressure, of course, fluctuates with each period of the admission of liquid, thus varying the boiling point of the refrigerant. In order to reduce the undesirable suction pressure variations and consequently produce a more even temperature in the evaporator, I have provided a hold-over brine or alcohol tank associated with the evaporator, which hold over tank forms a cold reservoir which holds the refrigerant temperature down during the time required by the compressor to restore the desired suction as pressure after each admission of liquid refrigerant from the high pressure side. The hold-over tank also gives a greater surface to absorb heat-from the interior of the counter and thus reduces the number of starts '30 and stops of the compressor, improving the overall efficiency thereof.

Other and further important objects of this invention will beapparent from the disclosures in t a drawings and specification.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a dispiay to counter with the device of this invention positioned therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the evaporator head with inlet valves. Figure 3 is a fragmentary central vertical section of Figure 2 showing the float valve mechanism. v

Figure 4- is a fragmentar enlarged elevation of the header and hol -over tank.

Figure '5. is a section on the line V-V of so Fi ure 4:. i

s shown on the drawings: A lon for the is lay of perishable food products I is indicate by the reference numeral 10 in Figure 1, a long header tank 11 being supdisplay counter such as is used .orted therein by U bars 12 suspended from rames 13 comprising bars bent into a rectangular outline with feet 14 for supporting I the header tank at the proper height. 5 In an artificial refrigerating system of the compression type using a flooded evaporator,

A series of-evaporator tubes 15 are aroo ranged along the header tank 11, one end 16 of each tube opening into the header near the bottom thereof below the liquid level and the other end 17 opening into the header at One side above the liquid level in order that the evaporating gas will have a freeexit. The general path of the liquid is, therefore, into the tube end 16 while some of the-gas generated bubbles back through this end and the rest bubbles up through the liquid and exists at the other end 17.

A hold-over tank 18 having a filler opening 19 for brine or other suitable non-freezing fluid such as alcohol 20 is placed inside the loops of the tubes 15 and preferably rests thereon withside spacers 22 to hold the tank in osition. This hold-over tank is intended to ave a large heat storage capacity, i. e., the ability to absorb considerable heat witha small temperature rise, in order that the tubes 15 will be held down to alow temperature during the periods when the header loses its proper suction pressure due to the inflow of liquid from the high pressure line. The hold-overtank reduces the possibility of partial defrostin of the pipes 15 by providmg a greater sur ace to absorb heat and thus decreasingthe number of starts and steps of the compressor; allowing the suction pres sure to be kept higher and thus the compressor is able to extract the greatest amount of heat per unit of electrical energy.

The float valve structure previously referred to as maintaining aflooded systemintheheader' comprises a cover23 for one end of theheader tank 11 having shut-ofi valves 24 and 25 mounted thereon for the liquid inlet and sucti on outlet connections 26 and 27; the liquid inlet valve being positioned over a passage 28 through the cover which contains a screen 29. A valve seat 30 is positioned at the inner end of the passage 28 and a valve guide 31 is centered therepver, a needle valve stem 32 sliding in the guide and having a pin 33 which is engaged in a slot in a float lever 34 pivoted at 35 and carrying a float 36. It will be evident from Figure 3 that when the float-drops it pulls the valve stem 32 back allowing the liquid to enter through the valve seat 30, discharging downwardly through a 1m port 37 which reduces the violent discharge by submerging the downwardly directed outlet below the liquid level.

. It will thus be seen that I have produced an improved evaporator header with a holdover tank, especially adapted for use in lon counters wherein it is ordinarily difficult to prevent uneven temperature conditions in a long header due to recurring losses of the suction pressure with consequent defrosting of a portion of the evaporator coils.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a Wide range Without departing from the principles of this invention and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a header tank, a float controlled inlet valve therein adapted to maintain the liquid level therein, a series of evaporator'tubes opening into said header tank to increase the evaporating surface thereof, and a hold-over brine tank positioned within said evaporator tubes and adapted to maintain a more even temperature therein, said brine tank being of substantially reduced diameter with respect to the space within the tubes in which it is disposed, and spacers carried by the tubes and engaging the tank whereby to permit free circulation around the tank and between the latter and the tubes.

2. A flooded evaporator for refrigerating counters comprising a header tank of approx imately the full length of the counter, evaporatorcoils having inlet and outlet connections to said header tank, a hold-over'brine tank supported within said coils and parallel 40 g to said header tank, and supporting standards for said header tank and said brine tank consisting of end frames having lower supporting feet, the said brine tank being loosely disposed within and through engaging the latter at a single point of support, whereby to permit free circulation of air around the tank Within the coils.

3. A refrigerating unit for display count ers and the like, comprising an elongated header tank, a pair of end frames to which the ends of the tank are fixed, said frames having portions depending below the tank .and provided with supporting feet, a seriesof curved tubes connected at their opposite ends 65 to the tank and forming coils exteriorly of the same, each having a single turn, a brine tank of substantially reduced diameter with respect to 'said coils, and extending through the coils parallel to the header tank, said brine tank being loosely disposed to engage each of the coils at a single point, the coils having spacing members engaging the brine tank, whereby to hold thelatter in position permitting free circulation of air around the brine tank within the coils.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

IRA. H. REINDEL.

the coils and 45 

